First Comelec gun ban violator in Region 6 nabbed in Kabankalan

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – The Police Regional Office (PRO)-6 reported on Monday the apprehension of the first violator of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) gun ban in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental over the weekend.

Police arrested Christopher Gaisen, 21, of Barangay Orong in a Comelec checkpoint in Barangay 9 Sunday night.

Police Lieutenant Dennis Melgarejo, deputy police chief of Kabankalan City Police Station, said Gaisen along with his father, who was driving a tricycle, passed through the checkpoint but did not immediately stop when flagged down.

Other police officers flagged down the tricycle again and saw in plain view a firearm placed inside the unzipped bag of the suspect.

Police arrested the suspect and recovered from him a .38 caliber revolver loaded with five live ammunitions, as well as two bladed weapons.

Melgarejo said Gaisen failed to present any document authorizing him to possess the said firearm.

Gaisen alleged that the firearm was just for protection, since they were supposed to fetch someone at the bus terminal.

Melgarejo said they explained to Gaisen and his father the violation that was committed.

Melgarejo said Gaisen had no previous record of any criminal infraction.